Line switch



Aug. 26, 1924. 1,506,271

J. N. REYNOLDS ET AL LINE SWITCH Filed April 1, 1920 Patented Aug. 26,1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNNEWBERRY REYNOLDS, OF GREENWICH. CONNECTICUT, AND JOHN F. HELEN,

OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCOR-PORATED, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LINE SWITCH.

Application filed April 1, 1920. Serial No. 370,374.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we. JoI-rN Nnwnnnnr REYNOLDSand Jonx F. l-lnAnN, citizens of the United States, residing atGreenwich,

* 5 in the county of F airfield and State of (onl0 whichthe following isa full, clear, concise,

and exact description.

This invention relates to" telephone switches and particularly toswitches of the cross-bar type. The object of this invention is theprovision of a switch of the above character, simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and at the same time dependable in operation. I

The principal feature of this lnvention consists in the provision of across-bar switch comprising a wire multiple contact bank.

Another feature of the invention coniprises a combination'of line andtrunk conductors arranged coordinately, that is to say, extending atright angles one to the other, and in close proximity but out of contactwith each other. and contacting means at each juncture of the line andtrunk conductors so formed. whereby an electrical connection can beestablished between any pair of line and trunk conductors. v

In its breferred form this invention comprises a plurality of sets ofline conductors (usually each set consists of three conductors) arrangedin a parallel group and a plurality of sets of trunk conductors alsoarranged in a parallel group and extending at right angles to the lineconductors. Each set of line conductors crosses each set of trunkconductors in close proximity to but out of contact therewith. At eachpoint of juncture between the line and trunk conductors there isprovided a set of contact sleeves for establishing connections betweenthe line and trunk conductors. These contact sleeves are mounted on butinsulated from the flexible arms of a so-called trunkbar and arenormally held in such position that they cannot be engaged to makecontact with their respective line and trunk conductors. Upon thepreselection of a trunk, the trunk-bar associated therewith is rotatedout of its normal position into a stand-by position where it awaits thenext incoming call. The operation of moving a trunk-bar into stand-byposition moves the contact sleeves carried by the flexible arms of thattrunk-bar toward the trunk conductors but not into contact with them andthe flexible arms are so positioned that any one of them may be engagedby a line-bar associated therewith.

lVith each set of line conductors there is associated a line-bar, andeach line-bar is provided with a plurality of lugs, one for eachtrunk-bar. These lugs are designed to engage, upon operation of the linebar, any of their respectively associated flexible arms which may be ina stand-by position but to pass by, without interfering with, theflexible arms standing in normal position. The line bars are so arrangedas to move their lugs upon operation both longitudinally and rotativelyand thus to move the flexible arms in such a way as to cause the contactsleeves thereon to be brought into contact with both the trunk and lineconductors simultaneously. As soon as one of the flexible arms of atrunk-bar is engaged by a line-bar, the trunk-bar is released andreturns to its normal position carrying with it all the flexible armsthereon, except the one engaged. The immediate return of the busytrunk-bars to normal position prevents subsequent subscribers fromcutting in on busy trunks. A detailed description of the switch followsReferring to the drawing, Fig. l is a perspective view of the switchwith some parts broken away for the sake of clearness, and Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic illustration showing the relation between line conductors,trunk conductors, and contact sleeves. The electrical circuit with whichthis line switch would ordinarily be associated is omitted from thedrawing and description, as it will be obvious to those familiar withthe art. In Fig. 1 there is shown a frame structure in which members 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 constitute the principal parts to which all the otherelements of the switch are shown attached. Sets of trunk conductors,each consisting of small rods or wires 6, 7 and 8, are shown attached tothe frame members 1 and 2 and insulated therefrom, and three sets ofline conductors, consisting of small rods or wires 9, 10 and 11, areshown attached-to frame members 3 and 4 and insulated therefrom. Eachset of line conductors will be. seen to form a juncture with each andevery set of trunk conductors, but they are so arranged that they do notmake contact therewith. Associated with each set of trunk conductors isa trunk-bar 16, which is pivotally attached to. the frame members 1 and5. Each trunkbar is provided with a number of flexible arms 15, one foreach set of line conductors. These flexible arms may be attached to thetrunk-bars or may form an integral part thereof. Mounted on eachflexible arm 15,

' but insulated therefrom, are shown three annular contact sleeves 12,13 and 14.

Associated with each set of line conductors is a line-bar 17, pivotallymounted in the frame members 3 and 4 and so arranged that it may bemoved longitudinally and rotatively. One end of each line-bar isprovided with an elongated fulcrum pin 27, which projects through anaperture in the frame member 4, and a spring member 28 engages theelongated fulcrum pin 27 so as to normally force the line-bar 17 intoits extreme right-hand position. The armature 19 of the electromagnet24is arranged to force the line-bar out of its normal positionlongitudinally towards the left side of the switch upon energization ofits elec tromagnet 24. Each line-bar is provided at its left-hand endwith a cam roller 30, designed to engage the cam 29 and thereby a-usethe line-bar to rotate about its pivots.

Each line-bar is provided with a plurality of lugs 18, one for eachtrunk-bar. These lugs are so designed and positioned that, upon thelongitudinal and rotative movement of their respective line-bars, theywill engage any of the flexible arms with which they are respectivelyassociated, which may happen to be in a stand-by position, but the lugswill pas by without interfering with any of the flexible arms which arestanding in normal position.

Each trunk-bar 16 is provided at its lower end with an arm 20 arrangedto be engaged by an armature 21 of an individual electromagnet 22. Uponpreselection of an idle trunk, the electromagnet 22 is energized,whereupon it draws up its armature 21, which engages the arm 20, forcingthe latter to the left side of its associated lug 25 on the latch plate23. The latch plate is pivoted at 26 and 33 and is retained in itsnormal position by the spring 34. Upon the movement of any one of thearms 20 into a stand-by position, the latch plate is forced down againstthe tension of its spring 34 by virtue of the arm 20 bearin against theangular surface of its associate lug 25. Immediately following theseizure of a selected trunk by a subscribers line, the ectromagnet 32 ismomentarily energized and attracts the arm 31, which forms a part of thelatch plate 23, pulling thelatter downwardl thereby releasin thetrunk-bar associated with the trun just seized.

In Fig. 1 the second trunk-bar from the left of the switch is shown in astand-by position, its associated set of trunk-conductors having beenpreselected, for the next connection to be'established. Any one of theflexible arms 15 of this trunk-bar may be engaged by a lug 18 of one ofthe linebars 17 associated therewith.

The trunk-bar, shown in the third position from the left of the switch,is busy, the second flexible arm from the top being engaged by itsassociated lug 18. It will be seen that this trunk-bar has been releasedfrom its stand-by position and that all the flexible arms, except theone engaged, have returned to their normal positions, thereby preventinganother calling subscriber from being connected with the busy trunk associated with that trunk-bar. It will be understood by those skilled inthe art that a 'master switch for selecting idle trunks would beprovided for use with this line switch.

. In the diagram, Fig. 2, the vertical trunkconductors to the left ofthe view. have been preselected and their associated trunk-bar is instand-by position, the contact sleeves being in close proximity to theirtrunk-conductors. The trunk shown in the middle positio n is busy andthe contact sleeves in the second position from the top are seen to bein contact wit-h their respective line and trunk-conductors. Thetrunk-bar associated with the trunk to the right of the view is innormal position and thecontact sleeves at that position are seen to beconsiderably farther awayfrom their associated trunkconductors than arethe contact sleeves associated with the trunk-conductors to the left ofthe view which are in stand-by position.

Throughout the duration of every call one of the electromagnets 24remains energized, retaining its line-bar in operated position and assoon as the call is finished and the connected subscribers hang up theirreceivers the electromagnet 24 is deenergized releasing its line-barallowing it to return to normal position.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic telephone switch, sets of line conductors and sets oftrunk conductors arranged coordinately but out of contact one with theother, a trunk-bar associated with each set of trunk-conductors andhaving a lurality of flexible arms, one for each set of line conductorsand on each flexible arm a set of contacting media each associated withone of the crossing points of said line and trunk conductors, means formoving said trunk-bar from normal poline sition to stand-by position,and means 0 erable upon the initiation of incoming'ca s for engagingsaid flexible arms individually and movm them so as to move saidcontacting media into contact with their respective line conductors andtrunk conductors.

2. In an automatic telephone switch, sets of line conductors and sets oftrunk conductors arranged coordinately but out of contact one with theother, a trunk-bar for each set of trunk conductors, said trunk barsbein mounted to be rotatable about an axis para lel with said trunkconductors, a plurality of flexible arms attached to and projectin atright angles from each of said trunkars, a set of contact sleevesinsulatively mounted on each of said flexible arms, each set of contactsleeves being situated in propinquity to one of the crosslng points ofsai line and trunk conductors but normall out of contact with said lineand trun conductors, means operable upon the preselection of an idletrunk to rotate the trunk-bar associated therewith from normal tostand-by osition, a line-bar for each set of line con uctors, saidline-bars mounted parallel with said line conductors and movablelongitudinally and rot'atively about an axis parallel with said lineconductors, each line ar being common to one flexible arm of each trunkbar and provided with means whereby it will engage upon operation an oneof its associated flexible arms ,whic may be in stand-by position andmove said engaged flexible arm into a position where its contact sleeveswill make contact with their respective line and trunk conductors, butwill not engage any of the flexible arms in normal position, means formoving said line bars longitudinally and rotatively upon the initiationof calls on their respectively associated lines, means for retaining apreselected trunk bar in itsstand-by position until said atrunk bar isengaged by a line bar, and means for releasing said trunk bar from'itsstandy (position subsequent to the engagzment of sai trunk bar by anoperated 3. In an automatic telephone switch, two

groups each comprising a plurality of sets of parallel wire conductors,the sets of the two grou 3 being arranged coordinately and out 0 contactone with the other, a set of active contacts situated in propinquity toeach crossing point of said sets of conductors and means for moving saidactive contacts into engagement with their respectively associated setsof conductors, jointly, to establish electrical connectionstherebetween.

4. In an automatic telephone switch, multiple bare wire contactsarranged in intersectin relationto each other and normally out 0% engament, and movable means at each point o cooperation and separate fromsaid multiple wires for efiecting connections between said multiplewires.

5. In an automatic switching mechanism, a plurality of sets ofstationary conductors arranged in intersecting horizontal and verticalplanes, each vertical conductor passing adjacent to and out of contactwith a horizontal conductor, a plurality of sets of connectors, each setof said connectors being in prop'mquity to each point of intersectionbetween said sets of conductors and separate from said conductors, andmeans operable to move said sets of connectors to effect electricalconnections between said sets of conductors.

' 6. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of stationaconductors, a lurality of rows of movab e contact mem rs disposed inapproximately coordinate relation to said sets of stationary conductors,a plurality of other sets of stationary conductors arranged coordinatelyto the first mentioned sets of stationary conductors and said rows ofmovable contact members, and a plurality of operating bars arranged tocooperate in pairs to efiect engagement of the said row of movablecontact members with the first mentioned and second mentioned sets ofstationary conductors.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 30th day ofMarch, A. D.,

